Let's Talk About Pearls: Myths, Symbolism and Technical Facts
Dear readers,
we dive into a topic that is surrounded by many legends and misconceptions, and together we will try to address them all. Let's talk about pearls: we will understand what they are, the correct way to take care of them and the characteristics that determine their beauty and value. But that's not all; as I mentioned, we will also debunk some myths related to them.
Let's start with the first, fundamental question: what is a pearl? Pearls are composed of calcium carbonate in crystalline form, produced by the living tissues of mollusks. But if they are produced by bivalve mollusks, how does the pearl creation process take place?
In order for an oyster to begin the process of creating a pearl, a foreign body must enter its cavity. In order to defend its internal tissues from the invader, the oyster begins to produce layers of nacre, calcium, and other materials to insulate it. The nacre layer, which is crucial in determining the value of a pearl, is something we will return to later.
This layering process, which is simply a defense mechanism of the oyster, gives rise to our beloved pearl. Now let's talk about the characteristics that determine the value of a pearl, namely:
- **Brightness**
- **Mother of Pearl**: As mentioned, mother of pearl is the layer of nacre created by the mollusk during the pearl stratification process. The thicker this layer is, the higher the value.
- **Surface**: the smoother and more free from defects, the more appreciated it is.
- **Shape**: the rounder it is, the higher its value.
- **Color**: A white/cream color with a pinkish hue is very desirable, while a yellowish hue will reduce its value.
- **Diameter**: This characteristic goes hand in hand with the others. A pearl is not valuable just because it is large, but a pearl with many positive characteristics and considerable size will have a greater value.
Now let's address another frequently asked question: is it true that pearls die? Yes, dear readers, pearls are organic material and, as such, require certain conditions to remain alive and healthy. In fact, a pearl contains about 4% water inside it, and this percentage must be maintained. Otherwise, the pearl can dehydrate and, eventually, die. Be very careful, because this "death" is an irreversible process, and pearls left neglected can gradually and then permanently lose their beautiful characteristics.
How to take care of your pearls? The best and easiest way to take care of our pearls is to wear them: they feed through osmosis, so contact with our skin provides them with nourishment and hydration. For customers who do not usually wear pearls or do not feel comfortable with them, I recommend wearing them at night. It may seem strange, but I assure you that it is extremely effective! Generally, however, I recommend storing pearls in places that are not too hot and dry and not leaving them exposed to direct light.
Finally, I promised at the beginning that I would debunk the myth about pearls, and now I will do it, starting with a question: is it true that pearls bring bad luck? Dear readers, I am very happy to debunk once and for all the idea that pearls bring bad luck. But where does this belief come from? It originates in ancient Japan, where pearl divers undertook dangerous missions to find these precious marine gems. Pearls were found at great depths, and the search exposed the poor divers, who at the time did not have adequate safety measures, to dangers that often led to their deaths. The wives of these unfortunate men were therefore destined to wait in vain for their return and associated pearls with the tragic end of their loved ones.
From this arose the false belief that pearls bring bad luck and should not be given as gifts. Instead, I want to tell you that it is a good omen for the mother or mother-in-law to give pearls to the bride on her wedding day. Not only do their colors symbolize the bride's purity and innocence, but they also signify a welcome to the new life that the bride begins that day.
Dear readers, our short journey into the world of pearls has come to an end. I hope I have piqued your curiosity and answered some questions!
we dive into a topic that is surrounded by many legends and misconceptions, and together we will try to address them all. Let's talk about pearls: we will understand what they are, the correct way to take care of them and the characteristics that determine their beauty and value. But that's not all; as I mentioned, we will also debunk some myths related to them.
Let's start with the first, fundamental question: what is a pearl? Pearls are composed of calcium carbonate in crystalline form, produced by the living tissues of mollusks. But if they are produced by bivalve mollusks, how does the pearl creation process take place?
In order for an oyster to begin the process of creating a pearl, a foreign body must enter its cavity. In order to defend its internal tissues from the invader, the oyster begins to produce layers of nacre, calcium, and other materials to insulate it. The nacre layer, which is crucial in determining the value of a pearl, is something we will return to later.
This layering process, which is simply a defense mechanism of the oyster, gives rise to our beloved pearl. Now let's talk about the characteristics that determine the value of a pearl, namely:
- **Brightness**
- **Mother of Pearl**: As mentioned, mother of pearl is the layer of nacre created by the mollusk during the pearl stratification process. The thicker this layer is, the higher the value.
- **Surface**: the smoother and more free from defects, the more appreciated it is.
- **Shape**: the rounder it is, the higher its value.
- **Color**: A white/cream color with a pinkish hue is very desirable, while a yellowish hue will reduce its value.
- **Diameter**: This characteristic goes hand in hand with the others. A pearl is not valuable just because it is large, but a pearl with many positive characteristics and considerable size will have a greater value.
Now let's address another frequently asked question: is it true that pearls die? Yes, dear readers, pearls are organic material and, as such, require certain conditions to remain alive and healthy. In fact, a pearl contains about 4% water inside it, and this percentage must be maintained. Otherwise, the pearl can dehydrate and, eventually, die. Be very careful, because this "death" is an irreversible process, and pearls left neglected can gradually and then permanently lose their beautiful characteristics.
How to take care of your pearls? The best and easiest way to take care of our pearls is to wear them: they feed through osmosis, so contact with our skin provides them with nourishment and hydration. For customers who do not usually wear pearls or do not feel comfortable with them, I recommend wearing them at night. It may seem strange, but I assure you that it is extremely effective! Generally, however, I recommend storing pearls in places that are not too hot and dry and not leaving them exposed to direct light.
Finally, I promised at the beginning that I would debunk the myth about pearls, and now I will do it, starting with a question: is it true that pearls bring bad luck? Dear readers, I am very happy to debunk once and for all the idea that pearls bring bad luck. But where does this belief come from? It originates in ancient Japan, where pearl divers undertook dangerous missions to find these precious marine gems. Pearls were found at great depths, and the search exposed the poor divers, who at the time did not have adequate safety measures, to dangers that often led to their deaths. The wives of these unfortunate men were therefore destined to wait in vain for their return and associated pearls with the tragic end of their loved ones.
From this arose the false belief that pearls bring bad luck and should not be given as gifts. Instead, I want to tell you that it is a good omen for the mother or mother-in-law to give pearls to the bride on her wedding day. Not only do their colors symbolize the bride's purity and innocence, but they also signify a welcome to the new life that the bride begins that day.
Dear readers, our short journey into the world of pearls has come to an end. I hope I have piqued your curiosity and answered some questions!